By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter

Mobile phone firms and portals are moving to popularize accessing the Internet on smart phones but the much-talked-about mobile Internet explosion has yet to happen.

Smart phone users are still hesitant in subscribing to ``expensive'' mobile Internet services, even as carriers are spending heavily to convert their desktop applications for use on handsets, competing for a head start in the potentially lucrative market.

NHN, the operator of Naver (www.naver.com), the country's most popular Web site, revealed a new Web portal (m.naver.com) for use in ``smart'' phones, PDAs and other mobile Internet devices this month.

Since it is optimized for handsets, which can't compete with laptops in power or speed, mobile Naver is basically a watered down version of its computer equivalent, with the fancy designs and multimedia features replaced by simplified menus and search bars.

NHN is actually a latecomer to the mobile party, although as the undisputed Internet industry kingpin, it could afford to do so.

Daum (www.daum.net), the No. 2 Web portal, has been operating Daum Mobile since January, while SK Communications, which operates Nate (www.nate.com) and the immensely popular Cyworld (www.cyworld.com) social networking services, launched ``Mini Cyworld'' for wireless users last December.

KTH, the Internet unit of telecommunications giant, KT, and operator of Paran (www.paran.com), also unveiled an upgraded version of its mobile portal, ``Paran Mini'' (mini.paran.com), Wednesday.

Although Internet companies are racing to unleash mobile portals, there is little differentiation between the products, as the companies have yet to gain a firm grasp about what will work and what won't.

The traffic to mobile portals remains miniscule, as most wireless users won't touch their expensive data services. So it's difficult for Internet companies to discuss and predict business models, although banner advertisements are obviously out of the question.

``It's more about allowing computer users to access similar services when they are on the road, rather than delivering something new for the mobile environment,'' said a KTH official.

``Business models are unclear, but Internet companies can't afford to be committed only half way. With wireless operators introducing more fixed-rates, and the popularity of smart-phones rising, the mobile Internet explosion is close, and the introduction of a killer device, such as the iPhone or Android handsets, could make a lot of difference,'' he said.

thkim@koreatimes.co.kr